New study suggests commercial electric trucks could have significant benefits

The diesel trucks that deliver all the necessities of modern life have a huge impact on air quality and public health. Even though diesel trucks account for a small fraction of vehicles, they are responsible for almost one third of motor-vehicle CO₂ emissions. 

Left: Tesla Semi (Source: Tesla); Right: Research Study (Source: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

The Tesla Semi is just one of the electric trucks being tested on the highways. Daimler, Volvo and other truck-makers have been running pilots of electric trucks for years, but fleet operators are only now beginning to put in serious orders. PepsiCo said in March that it expects to take delivery of 15 Tesla Semi electric trucks by the end of this year. Last September, Walmart Canada tripled its existing order for Tesla Semis to 130 units.

It’s a start, but according to the American Trucking Associations, there were almost 4 million Class 8 trucks in operation in the US in 2019, the vast majority of them diesel-powered. Battery costs are often cited as a barrier to faster adoption of electric alternatives, but a new analysis concludes that a lack of appropriate policies around adoption incentives, charging infrastructure, and electricity pricing is what’s holding back widespread electrification.

Researchers from the DOE’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the University of California, Los Angeles recently published a study that makes the case for prioritizing public policy to help electrify long-haul trucking, which would deliver huge reductions in emissions.

Above: An update on Tesla Semi progress (YouTube: Tailosive EV)

The study analyzes the total cost of ownership (TCO) of an electric long-haul truck compared to a diesel. Using the current price of a battery pack and assuming a 375-mile range, the researchers found that the TCO for an electric long-haul truck is 13% lower per mile, which translates to a net savings of $200,000 over the life of the truck.

The study authors also forecast that future reductions in battery costs and other expected improvements would result in a 50% reduction in TCO per mile by 2030. The electrification of long-haul trucking now belongs to the “adjacent possible,” so what’s the next step to get the nation’s truck fleet charged?

“Given the massive economic and environmental benefits, the case for long-haul electric trucking is stronger than ever before,” said Berkeley Lab Research Scientist Nikit Abhyankar, one of the authors of the study. “Enabling policies such as adoption and charging infrastructure incentives, sales mandates, and cost-reflective electricity pricing are crucial.”

“If we can move away from diesel-dependent heavy-duty vehicles, we have a chance at significantly reducing greenhouse gas and particulate emissions from the transportation sector,” said Berkeley Lab Staff Scientist Amol Phadke, lead author of the study.

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This article originally appeared in Charged. Author: Charles Morris. Source: EurekAlert